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Butchers speak out over horsemeat burger scandal

BUTCHERS have spoken out after a number of supermarkets were found to be selling burgers containing horse meat.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that horse meat had been found in burgers on sale at Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, Iceland and Dunnes Stores.

In Tesco Everyday Value Beef Burgers, horse meat accounted for about 29 per cent of the meat and the supermarket has since removed all frozen burgers from sale immediately, regardless of whether they had been found to contain equine DNA.

Asda, the Co-op and Sainsbury's were not among the four retailers found to be selling contaminated food but say they have pulled some ranges as a precaution.

Nationally more than 10m burgers have been removed from shelves.

Butcher Michael Hart, whose shop Michael Hart and Son has been in Cricklade High Street for more than 30 years, said: “I’m surprised that it has happened with these big supermarkets like Tesco – surely these things are checked out. We get Trading Standards Officers in all the time which we are more than happy about, but it amazes me that nobody knows how long this has been going on.

“It makes me wonder what the company are even using the horse meet for – why is it even in their factories? We make our burgers on site and we use 100 per cent minced meat. If anything alien was found in them we would be for the high jump.

“I think it is possible that local butchers may see an increase in demand for burgers – they are popular and this news is very off putting. All you want in your burgers is 100 per cent beef.”

Harold James, of James Butchers in Cricklade High Street, said: “Horse meat isn’t recognised in this country. I know people eat it abroad, and when I was a youngster my father used to say it was like a very lean, sweet sort of meat.

“It’s not against the law to eat it but I think advertising it as something it’s not, is wrong. At this time of year we don’t sell a lot of burgers anyway, but I have sold a few since this happened, so maybe we will see more people buying them from butchers where you know what you are getting in them.”

A spokesman said Swindon Council was being updated by the Food Standards Agency but had not yet been asked to take any action.

He added: “If the FSA asks us to take action then we will do so as we want residents to be confident about the food they eat.”

Comments

If they hadn't have told us we wouldn't have known. Dna testing found the problem but I didn't hear of any one who complained about the taste.

Are the farmers feeding the cattle something?? BSE!!

It is all a matter of trust. BSE!!!
If they hadn't have told us we wouldn't have known. Dna testing found the problem but I didn't hear of any one who complained about the taste.
Are the farmers feeding the cattle something?? BSE!!Robh

It is all a matter of trust. BSE!!!

If they hadn't have told us we wouldn't have known. Dna testing found the problem but I didn't hear of any one who complained about the taste.

Are the farmers feeding the cattle something?? BSE!!

Score: 0

Synergie
7:00am Fri 18 Jan 13

The British cow association have sent a petition to the government.
.
They claim foreign horses are stealing their jobs.

The British cow association have sent a petition to the government.
.
They claim foreign horses are stealing their jobs.Synergie

The British cow association have sent a petition to the government.
.
They claim foreign horses are stealing their jobs.

Score: 0

RichardR1
7:24am Fri 18 Jan 13

Sadly half the meat that enters the UK has a very nebulous provenance, so why would this be such a surprise.

I understand the main sources were Holland and Spain, both within the EU, so would be regulated as we are.

So if these are suspect what about the stuff that comes from Africa, South America etc and has a produce of the ECC on it, having passed through the EU.

Sadly half the meat that enters the UK has a very nebulous provenance, so why would this be such a surprise.
I understand the main sources were Holland and Spain, both within the EU, so would be regulated as we are.
So if these are suspect what about the stuff that comes from Africa, South America etc and has a produce of the ECC on it, having passed through the EU.RichardR1

Sadly half the meat that enters the UK has a very nebulous provenance, so why would this be such a surprise.

I understand the main sources were Holland and Spain, both within the EU, so would be regulated as we are.

So if these are suspect what about the stuff that comes from Africa, South America etc and has a produce of the ECC on it, having passed through the EU.

Score: 0

Compaq
7:32am Fri 18 Jan 13

Don't forget, "every little helps" our profits!!!

Don't forget, "every little helps" our profits!!!Compaq

Don't forget, "every little helps" our profits!!!

Score: 0

A.Baron-Cohen
9:20am Fri 18 Jan 13

One more reason to become vegetarian.....

One more reason to become vegetarian.....A.Baron-Cohen

One more reason to become vegetarian.....

Score: 0

steffl
10:11am Fri 18 Jan 13

mmmh, just makes you wonder what are we getting sold - it is just never what is says... Sad, that these days you hardly can't trust any food and there is no honesty. One more reason to be vegetarian!

mmmh, just makes you wonder what are we getting sold - it is just never what is says... Sad, that these days you hardly can't trust any food and there is no honesty. One more reason to be vegetarian!steffl

mmmh, just makes you wonder what are we getting sold - it is just never what is says... Sad, that these days you hardly can't trust any food and there is no honesty. One more reason to be vegetarian!

Score: 0

TheBluesBrother
10:31am Fri 18 Jan 13

Next time you sit down to eat a steak in a restaurant and you see whip marks, it more than likely ran in the 2.30 last week...

Next time you sit down to eat a steak in a restaurant and you see whip marks, it more than likely ran in the 2.30 last week...TheBluesBrother

Next time you sit down to eat a steak in a restaurant and you see whip marks, it more than likely ran in the 2.30 last week...

Score: 0

Always Grumpy
11:15am Fri 18 Jan 13

A.Baron-Cohen wrote…

One more reason to become vegetarian.....

Rubbish, nothing wrong with eating horses, or any other animal. It's good for you and nothing can beat a juicy steak (horse or cow) or a bacon roll. Mmmmm.......

[quote][p][bold]A.Baron-Cohen[/bold] wrote:
One more reason to become vegetarian.....[/p][/quote]Rubbish, nothing wrong with eating horses, or any other animal. It's good for you and nothing can beat a juicy steak (horse or cow) or a bacon roll. Mmmmm.......Always Grumpy

A.Baron-Cohen wrote…

One more reason to become vegetarian.....

Rubbish, nothing wrong with eating horses, or any other animal. It's good for you and nothing can beat a juicy steak (horse or cow) or a bacon roll. Mmmmm.......

Score: 0

Robh
11:59am Fri 18 Jan 13

I'm still concerned that the dna testing showed horse dna but was that from horse meat in the burgers or from the feed they have been giving the cows.

BSE problems all over again??

I'm still concerned that the dna testing showed horse dna but was that from horse meat in the burgers or from the feed they have been giving the cows.
BSE problems all over again??Robh

I'm still concerned that the dna testing showed horse dna but was that from horse meat in the burgers or from the feed they have been giving the cows.

BSE problems all over again??

Score: 0

Robh
12:01pm Fri 18 Jan 13

A.Baron-Cohen wrote…

One more reason to become vegetarian.....

Where do the vegetables come from?

Farmers. Who else.

Still trust them?

[quote][p][bold]A.Baron-Cohen[/bold] wrote:
One more reason to become vegetarian.....[/p][/quote]Where do the vegetables come from?
Farmers. Who else.
Still trust them?Robh

A.Baron-Cohen wrote…

One more reason to become vegetarian.....

Where do the vegetables come from?

Farmers. Who else.

Still trust them?

Score: 0

house on the hill
1:18pm Fri 18 Jan 13

Having watched a few programmes on the way mass produced burgers and sausages are made, I am surprised anyone buys them. For some of them a bit of horse meat was probably an improvement. none of the cow is wasted in making burgers and I mean none. YUK!

Having watched a few programmes on the way mass produced burgers and sausages are made, I am surprised anyone buys them. For some of them a bit of horse meat was probably an improvement. none of the cow is wasted in making burgers and I mean none. YUK!house on the hill

Having watched a few programmes on the way mass produced burgers and sausages are made, I am surprised anyone buys them. For some of them a bit of horse meat was probably an improvement. none of the cow is wasted in making burgers and I mean none. YUK!

Score: 0

benzss
2:10pm Fri 18 Jan 13

house on the hill wrote…

Having watched a few programmes on the way mass produced burgers and sausages are made, I am surprised anyone buys them. For some of them a bit of horse meat was probably an improvement. none of the cow is wasted in making burgers and I mean none. YUK!

Nothing wrong with that. Sausages are a grand way of using as much of the animal as possible.

Try to get past your disgust of offal (and the like) and you'll find some tasty treats.

[quote][p][bold]house on the hill[/bold] wrote:
Having watched a few programmes on the way mass produced burgers and sausages are made, I am surprised anyone buys them. For some of them a bit of horse meat was probably an improvement. none of the cow is wasted in making burgers and I mean none. YUK![/p][/quote]Nothing wrong with that. Sausages are a grand way of using as much of the animal as possible.
Try to get past your disgust of offal (and the like) and you'll find some tasty treats.benzss

house on the hill wrote…

Having watched a few programmes on the way mass produced burgers and sausages are made, I am surprised anyone buys them. For some of them a bit of horse meat was probably an improvement. none of the cow is wasted in making burgers and I mean none. YUK!

Nothing wrong with that. Sausages are a grand way of using as much of the animal as possible.

Try to get past your disgust of offal (and the like) and you'll find some tasty treats.

Score: 0

house on the hill
3:05pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Each to their own benzss, what may taste goos to one person may well taste like vomit to another and I dont have to get by my disgust of anything if I dont want to, its a free country. My point is that if you want eat those sort of burgers and sausages when you can buy decent quality ones you get what you pay for and more importantly it wasnt just the "meat" part of it, the rest of it seems to be padded out with all sorts if dubious stuff.

Each to their own benzss, what may taste goos to one person may well taste like vomit to another and I dont have to get by my disgust of anything if I dont want to, its a free country. My point is that if you want eat those sort of burgers and sausages when you can buy decent quality ones you get what you pay for and more importantly it wasnt just the "meat" part of it, the rest of it seems to be padded out with all sorts if dubious stuff.house on the hill

Each to their own benzss, what may taste goos to one person may well taste like vomit to another and I dont have to get by my disgust of anything if I dont want to, its a free country. My point is that if you want eat those sort of burgers and sausages when you can buy decent quality ones you get what you pay for and more importantly it wasnt just the "meat" part of it, the rest of it seems to be padded out with all sorts if dubious stuff.

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